Dolomites “Classic” Hike

We’ll meet at 1:00 pm at the Porta Altinia Suites Hotel for a private transfer (circa 2.5 hours) into the mountains to San Candido-Innichen, a picturesque village nestled in the Upper Pusteria Valley, near the Austrian border. Rich with history, this area was once part of Imperial Austria until the end of WWI, and its alpine charm is undeniable. You will have time to settle into our centrally located four-star hotel and enjoy a gelato in the village or a glass of Prosecco in the piazza. The views are even spectacular from the village as the jagged peaks of the Baranci mountains provide a dramatic backdrop. We offer you an aperitivo before dinner, where your guides will introduce the exciting week ahead, followed by a delicious dinner to kick off the adventure. Overnight Post Hotel or Sporthotel Tyrol (or similar) in San Candido/Innichen. Transfer, hotel and dinner included.

This morning, we head into the idyllic Casies Valley, just a short 30-minute drive away. Here, rolling meadows, traditional farmhouses, forested hills, and quiet hamlets create a timeless Alpine landscape where life has changed little over the years. Local farmers still work the land, and brown-eyed cows graze the high summer pastures. Our warm-up hike undulates steadily up the valley, with time to soak in the scenery before lunch at a cosy restaurant with sweeping views of surrounding peaks and pastures. After the hike, we transfer to Dobbiaco for a short visit to the Visitors Centre and Museum, offering an introduction to Dolomite geology and the area’s World War I history. From here, you can either enjoy a flat 5 km walk back to San Candido with your guides or take a quick four-minute train ride. Back in San Candido, there’s time to relax, explore the village, or unwind in the hotel spa before dinner in the hotel dining room. The Hike: 8.6 km/5.4 mi. 380 m/1215 ft elevation gain and loss. Duration: 3.25 hours moving time.  Overnight: San Candido. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

Private transfer to the trail-head for a scenic and challenging hike to Prato Piazza. We start with a hike along the emerald green waters of Lake Braies before climbing up above the tree line. Our efforts are rewarded with a constantly changing alpine panorama. We eventually reach a high alpine plateau that offers wide-open views and which is redolent with meadows of wildflowers which create a cheerful and colorful contrast to the stark beauty of the distant limestone peaks. After lunch, we continue towards Prato Piazza which was a strategic point during the battles of 1917. Private shuttle back to San Candido. The Hike: 15.1kms/9.4 mi, elevation gain 851m/2,723 ft descent 759m/2,428 ft. Duration about 5 hrs Overnight San Candido. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Start your day with a private van transfer up to the Auronzo Rifugio (hut) perched at 2,333 m (7,650 ft) on Forcella Longeres, right at the foot of the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo. During World War I, the area around Rifugio Auronzo lay directly on the front line between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces. From 1915 to 1917, soldiers fought a high-altitude mountain war here, carving trenches, tunnels, and artillery positions into the rock, many of which are still visible today. You will hike past the “Three Peaks”, among the most dramatic mountains in the Dolomites, thanks to their extraordinary shapes, alignment, and subtle color changes that play out through the day. The Cima Grande (Big Peak) is the highest (3,000 m / 9,836 ft), followed by Cima Ovest (Western Peak) and Cima Piccola (Small Peak). After a steep climb, we are rewarded with lunch at Rifugio Pian di Cengia, a tiny, high-alpine mountain hut tucked into the heart of the Sexten Dolomites at 2,528 m (8,293 ft), one of the highest and smallest refuges in the Tre Cime / Drei Zinnen UNESCO World Heritage area.  Perched between striking peaks like Cima Dodici and Monte Paterno, it sits in a wild, dramatic setting that’s quieter than many more frequented huts nearby. Operated by the Rogger family since 1979, it serves simple regional cuisine. The nearby old World War I positions add historical interest to its spectacular natural setting. After lunch, we continue down through alpine meadows past whistling marmots and back up to Auronzo rifugio to complete our loop. The Hike: 15.5 km/9.6 mi Elevation gain: 896m/ 2,940 ft and loss:570m/1,870 ft Duration: about 5 hours. Overnight in San Candido. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

Today’s hike brings a striking change of scenery as we leave alpine meadows behind and enter a landscape of canyons, cascades, and crystal-clear streams. The trail follows the Rio Fanes through wild rhododendron, alongside a vivid sapphire-blue river, with pauses at thundering waterfalls—including one you can walk behind for a magical, curtain-of-water view. After the hike, a short transfer takes us to Cortina d’Ampezzo, where we leave South Tyrol and enter the Veneto. Ringed by the peaks of Cristallo, Sorapis, Pelmo, and the Tofane, Cortina’s setting is instantly dramatic. We check into the elegant 5-star Grand Hotel Savoia, welcoming guests since the 1880s, with time to stroll Cortina’s stylish streets or relax. Dinner tonight is at Dolom’eats, a contemporary favourite on the lively pedestrian promenade. The Hike: Long option: 12 km / 6.8 mi, elevation gain/loss 473 m / 1,500 ft, approx. 4.5 hrs (picnic lunch). Short option: 7.2 km / 4.5 mi, elevation gain/loss 250 m / 800 ft, approx. 2.5 hrs Overnight Cortina. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

We have a private transfer to Passo Giau to start our hike at 2,236 m (7,336 ft). The trail traverses a high alpine meadow with views onto distant Marmolada glacier and spectacular Monte Pelmo. We arrive at Rifugio Croda da Lago Palmieri for lunch overlooking Lake Federa whose still azure waters reflect the surrounding mountains. After lunch, the trail descends through coniferous forests to our pick-up spot. Tonight, is a free night dinner so you are free to eat where you like with whom you like. The Hike: 12 kms/8 miles; 4.5 hours; Elevation gain: 761m/2497ft; Elevation loss: 1292m/4239ft. Hotel, and breakfast included.

This morning, you leave the hotel on foot and in a few minutes, you are beneath Monte Faloria. A breathtaking gondola ride whisks you up to 2100m/6,300 ft from where you have taken in a vast panoramic view that encompasses much of the terrain you have covered in the preceding days, and more. The Cristallo range, Croda Rossa, Pomagagnon, Tofane, Croda da Lago, and Becco di Mezzodì are easily identified, and in the distance the peaks of Monte Pelmo, Civetta, and Marmolada are discerned. On a clear day, the distinctive spires of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo punctuate the horizon. Our trail takes you towards the triangular peak of Monte Cristalo and descends the northern flank of Faloria. The trail eventually descends into the valley through centuries-old larch woods, as the terrain transitions from high alpine to pastoral pastures. We pass a traditional malga where cheese is still produced as it has been for generations. We stop for lunch at Rifugio Mietres, a classic all-wood chalet that is renowned for its excellent food. After lunch with a view, we continue our walk descending by foot into Cortina, passing immense all-wood barns that remind us of a bygone era when Cortina was a simple farming community of hardy mountain folk. Dinner tonight is in the excellent Ristorante Al Camin, where chef-owner Fabio Pompanin and his wife Lorena look after us. Fabio is adept at blending local culinary traditions with imaginative touches to produce a memorable dining experience for our last evening together. The Hike: 10.8 kms/6.8 miles or 3.5h mostly downhill with a total descent of 973 m/3,100 ft. Hard-packed dirt and rocky trails, and some asphalt back in town. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

*SPECIAL OPTION: Today, you can opt to try the Via Ferrata or "Iron Way" (weather permitting). If you choose this option, you skip the regular hike and join a local Alpine guide to summit Punta Fiames (an extra fee applies at your expense). The Via Ferrata is a network of iron ladders and cables that allow hikers to ascend vertical or exposed trails without rock climbing.Transfer time: 50 mins; The Hike: 8.7 mi (14 km) or 5-6 hours; Terrain: hard-packed dirt trails; Elev gain 3,225 ft (983 m) and loss 850 ft (260 m). Optional Via Ferrata: 5 hours; Transfer 20 minutes.

The tour ends this morning with a two-hour van transfer from Cortina to Treviso station. We will arrive around 11 a.m. You can continue your journey within Italy from Treviso train station, or take a taxi, train, or bus to get to nearby Venice International Airport. Travel time by taxi is 30 minutes. Or you can travel to Venice, which is also connected by taxi, train, and bus. Indeed, Treviso is a good base from which to visit Venice. It is easy to explore Venice by day and retire to Treviso’s low key, untouristy vibe for the evening. Breakfast and ONE group transfer included.

Please note: Some details of the itinerary may change according to the departure date of your tour. Whenever we run a tour we make new discoveries. Sometimes they are good discoveries, like a wonderful new trattoria, and sometimes they are bad, like a trail has been washed away. The result is that we sometimes change our itinerary to improve it by adding new wonderful elements to the tour or by removing something that does not work anymore. Rest assured, our goal is to always provide you with the best possible experience. We will advise you of any changes to the original itinerary prior to departure.  

The hikes in the Dolomites

The hikes in the Dolomites are the most challenging that we offer. The paths are good, but you require good footing and should be used to hiking on steep, rugged terrain.  Many of the hikes are no steeper than our Cinque Terre walk, for example, but the distances we hike in a day are a little longer. We walk 4-7 hours a day but often take a chair-lift, cable-car of funicular up or down various stretches, allowing spectacular views and for an easier hike. Daily distance between 8 and 16 kms.

Getting There: We pick you up from Treviso Porta Altinia Hotel at 1 pm on Day 1. A 2.5 hour private transfer takes you and your luggage to San Candido.

Air: The most convenient airport to the trip is Venice. Innsbruck (Austria) is much closer to the start of the trip, but Venice is closer to the end. Other airports in Northern Italy include Verona or Milan (Linate or Malpensa). For a complete list of Italian airports and a selection of low-cost airlines, see our "Transport Info" page.

Rail: See the Trenitalia website (in English) at this link. For alternative high-speed rail travel, see the Italo website. For complete information on using the Italian train system, see our blog post.  See the Austrian rail system website here if you are coming in from Innsbruck.

Getting Away at the End of the Trip: the trip ends with a private van transfer to the Treviso train station, arriving around 11:00 a.m. From there you can get a bus or train into Venice or to the train station. See our "Transport Info" page for more information on transportation alternatives to the Venice airport.

If you book a trip with us you will receive detailed information about how to get to the start of your trip. Please e-mail us with any specific travel questions.